With improving energy efficiency and weaning off reliance on fossil fuels top of mind, there are more advances in heating and cooling to achieve these goals than ever. One new technology is geothermal heat pumps. While the concept of a heat pump isn’t new, the geothermal heat pump is gaining in popularity, especially with new home builds. (It’s also possible to retrofit a geothermal heat pump to an existing home, but it can be more expensive.) Neither prospect is cheap, but you will eventually see major decreases in your energy bills, and geothermal heat pumps have longevity on their side.
While a heat pump as we know it draws heat in from the outside, a geothermal heat pump uses the heat from the earth. In both models, the warmth enters your home from the outside and passes through refrigerant coils, and is then dispersed throughout your house as warm air; the process is reversed for cooling. The indoor component of the system runs on electricity, but other than that, no other energy is expended.
Underground coils deliver heat from the earth to the heat pump and they are placed beneath the frost line on your property, where the temperature is a steady 50 degrees year-round. This means that a geothermal heat pump can be used in practically every region of the country. The downsides are the cost and damage to your yard. It’s expensive to install a geothermal heat pump and it requires major excavation of your property. And it’s worth restating that retrofitting a geothermal heat pump can be more expensive than if it’s installed during a new build.
The good news is that once the geothermal heat pump has been installed, the only maintenance needed is changing the indoor air filter regularly, otherwise, the system only needs inspection and other maintenance about every five years. In addition, you can receive a federal tax credit for installing a geothermal heat pump (you may also be eligible for state and local tax benefits.)
It’s a big decision, but if you want to discuss whether a geothermal heat pump is a good investment for your existing home or a new build in the planning stages, call Atlas Butler at 614-681-2167 to schedule a consultation with one of our installation specialists. We pride ourselves on keeping our knowledge and skills surrounding the latest HVAC advancements and can make the best recommendations based on your energy goals and budget.